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College Football Playoff rankings 2022: Projected Week 12 Top 25 after Washington upsets Oregon, Alabama survives Ole Miss, UCLA falls

By Cody Williams

Nov 12, 2022; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws the football during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. The Huskies won the game 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2022; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws the football during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. The Huskies won the game 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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College Football Playoff rankings, CFP rankings
Clemson Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports /

Projected College Football Playoff rankings after Week 11: No. 8-7

8. Clemson Tigers

It may look like a dominant 31-16 win over Louisville and, indeed, there were some good moments for Clemson. But when you consider how the game changed after Malik Cunningham went out of the game at halftime, you start to consider this game and win a bit different, especially for a team that was run off of the field by Notre Dame just a week ago. And even this spot in the rankings is starting to look danger after dropping out of the Top 4.

The biggest concern about Clemson is the defense. While filled with elite talent, this group has just not performed to their talent level. Now, I don’t expect the Tigers to have trouble with Miami and South Carolina to finish the year. But now that the ACC Championship Game matchup is set with explosive North Carolina, the outcome of that game is much more in question than it was just a few weeks ago.

7. USC Trojans

After one quarter of play against one-win Colorado, USC was trailing 3-2 following a weird start to the game. Then Caleb Williams turned on the juice and there was no looking back and that early deficit is all detractors will have to take away from them.

Even with losing running back Travis Dye for the season (an admittedly extremely tough blow for Lincoln Riley’s team), the offense started humming against an awful defense and USC looked like you’d expect a Top 10 team against perhaps the worst FBS team in the country.

Now comes crunch time for the Trojans as they will finish their regular season at UCLA and against Notre Dame at home. But with wins in those games and a spot in the Pac-12 title game, USC might be building a real case for a College Football Playoff berth.

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